North Korea moves second missile to east coast

Media reports in South Korea suggest the North has moved a second missile to the east coast.

AFP: Ed Jones

North Korea has placed two of its intermediate-range missiles on mobile launchers and hidden them on the east coast of the country, South Korean media has reported.

Claiming to be citing a top government official, the Yonhap news agency says both missiles have now been loaded on to vehicles equipped with launch pads.

"It has been confirmed that North Korea, early this week, transported two Musudan mid-range missiles by train to the east coast and loaded them on vehicles equipped with launch pads," Yonhap quoted the official as saying.

Musudan factbox:

Alternative names: Mirim, No Dong B, BM-25

First revealed: October 10, 2010

First tested: April 5, 2009

Launch weight: 19,000-26,000 kg

Length: 12-19 metres

Diameter: 1.5-2 metres

Operational range: 3,000-4,000km

Launch platform: truck, cargo ship, modified submarine

The defence ministry, which confirmed the movement of the first missile yesterday, declined to comment on the new report.

It marks the latest incremental move by North Korea which, incensed at fresh UN sanctions and South Korea-US military drills, has issued a series of apocalyptic warnings of nuclear war in recent weeks.

The North has said nuclear conflict could break out at any time on the Korean peninsula in a month-long war of words that has prompted the United States to move military assets into the region.

'Solidarity'

Ms Gillard says she has spoken with South Korean president Park Geun-hye to "assure her of the solidarity of Australia".

"The United States is showing restraint and a calm approach here, a very calm and purposeful approach. I think South Korea is showing remarkable restraint and I made that point to president Park," Ms Gillard said on arrival in China.

"There is always the risk of miscalculation when tensions are inflamed, which is why it is very important that we all do everything we can to get North Korea to step back from these provocative and belligerent statements."

There is always the risk of miscalculation when tensions are inflamed, which is why it is very important that we all do everything we can to get North Korea to step back from these provocative and belligerent statements

Julia Gillard

Ms Gillard praised China's recent support of strong UN Security Council against Pyongyang and says she will encourage the new China's new president and premier to help end the current crisis.

"Australia has made very clear its condemnation of the belligerent and provocative statements we have heard from North Korea," she said.

"I will be urging the Chinese leadership to use its influence to help with this issue with North Korea and most particularly to help see an end to these provocative statements, to get North Korea to engage again with six-party talks and to get North Korea to accept the offer of the president of South Korea for trust building dialogue."

The Japanese government says it is taking every possible measure to collect information and cooperate with other countries amid signs of the missile launch.

It said it would respond to any North Korean missile launch immediately and that it was bracing for a "worst-case scenario".

Japan prime minister Shinzo Abe said his government was "calmly watching" the situation but admitted North Korea's rhetoric was growing "increasingly provocative".

The United States has said it was taking "all necessary precautions" against the threats emanating from Pyongyang.

The European Union called on North Korea to stop stoking tensions and re-engage with the international community.